diff --git a/validator/src/main/java/com/google/daq/mqtt/sequencer/SequenceBase.java b/validator/src/main/java/com/google/daq/mqtt/sequencer/SequenceBase.java
index 7ca7dac67..e1822e0a9 100644
--- a/validator/src/main/java/com/google/daq/mqtt/sequencer/SequenceBase.java
+++ b/validator/src/main/java/com/google/daq/mqtt/sequencer/SequenceBase.java
@@ -822,10 +822,11 @@ public void setUp() {
 
     resetDeviceConfig(true);
 
-    returnAltRegistryRedirect();
-
+    // Do this before altRegistryRedirect() because of the change-detecting process.
     resetConfig(resetRequired);
 
+    returnAltRegistryRedirect();
+
     updateConfig("initial setup");
 
     debug(format("Stale state cutoff threshold is %s", isoConvert(stateCutoffThreshold)));